D6 Memorandum of an Excursion to the Tea Hills. [Feb. 



day, so that warm clothing not only became agreeable, but could not 

 be dispensed with during the nights ; arms for our defence against 

 violence from any quarter, formed likewise a part of our equipments, 

 and, trusting to money, and Mr. Gutzlaff's intimate knowledge of 

 the language and of the people for the rest, we left the ship on the 

 morning of Monday, 10th November, proceeding in the ship's long 

 boat towards the head of the bay, where the town of Hwuy Taou is 

 situated. 



The party in the boat consisted of Mr. Gutzlaff, Mr. Ryder, 

 (second officer of the " Colonel Young,") Mr. Nicholson, late quarter- 

 master of the " Water Witch," whom I had engaged for the projected 

 Woo-re journey, and myself, one native servant and eight lascars. 

 The wind being unfavourable, we made rather slow progress by row- 

 ing, but taking for our guidance the masts of some of the junks 

 which we observed lying behind a point of land, we pulled to get 

 under it, in order to avoid the strength of the ebb tide, which was 

 now setting against us. In attempting to round the point, however, 

 we grounded, and soon found that it was impossible to get into the 

 river on that side, on account of sand-banks which were merely 

 covered at high water, and that it was necessary to make a consider- 

 able circuit seaward to be able to enter. This we accomplished, but 

 not till 1a.m. At this time a light breeze fortunately springing up, 

 we got on very well for sometime, but were again obliged to anchor, 

 at £ past 2, from want of water. As the tide rose we gradually 

 advanced towards the town of Hwuy Taou, till we came to one of 

 those bridges, of which there are several along the coast, that extend 

 over wide sand flats that are formed at the mouths of the rivers. These 

 bridges are constructed of stone piers with slabs of stone laid from 

 pier to pier, some extending over a space of 25 feet and upwards, and 

 others being from 15 to 20 feet space. As the length of this bridge 

 cannot be less than three quarters of a mile, the whole is very striking 

 as a work of great labour, if not exhibiting either much skill or beautv. 

 We were informed by some boat people that we should not find water 

 to carry us beyond the bridge, but observing some tall masts on the 

 other side, we resolved on making the experiment and pushing on as 

 far as we could. It was almost dark when we passed under the 

 bridge, and we had not proceeded far when we were again aground. 

 This, however, we attributed to our unacquaintance with the channel, 

 and as the tide floated us off, we continued advancing, notwithstand- 

 ing the warning of a friendly voice from the bridge that entreated us 

 to return to the town, promising us comfortable quarters, and a 

 guide, &c. Being rather distrustful of the motives for this advice, 



